303 savage hunting load developement
Has anyone had much experience with loading 180-190 gr bullets in the 303 savage? I am presently working on a 160 gr Hornady FTP pushed with 33.5, 34, 34.5 grains of Leverlution. I would like to get my hands on .308 190 gr Barnes Originals (30-30) for a hunting load.
I am pulling my Grandfather's old model 1899 out of the safe for the whitetail season this fall. |
Have always stuck with 170 grain flat points and 30 grains of IMR3031.
Could never find 180 or 190 grain billets at the time... |
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If you have one that has a .311 bore, you can shoot bullets designed for the 303 British, they have .311 and .312 diameter bullets. |
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The 303 Savage has slightly better ballistics than the 30-30 but primarily because you can use pointed bullets in the Savage rotary magazine. For best performance stick to 130-150 grain SP Interlock or other thin skinned cup and core bullets. The relatively low velocity of this cartridge, about 2400 FPS with a 150 grain but only about 2000 with a 170, is not well suited to Mono bullets unless you can find a spire point specifically designed for lower velocities. There are lots of loads for it using a wide variety of powders, check Lyman, old Speer and Sierra books, old Hornady too. Basically 30-30 loads are a very good starting point. You can buy 303 Savage Brass from Privi and a few other specialty makers but it can be really hard to find. Rusty Wood and Tradex were the last two places I got some. If you have to you can form 303 brass from 30-30, 32 Special and 38-55 brass. The web area of the 303 brass is larger so you may lose a few fire forming with light loads of Trail Boss. The Savage 99 is a fairly strong action but it is still a lever. Locking one up from loading too heavy is a REALLY bad idea. Back off as soon as any signs of pressure appear. |
bore size
The early ones were .311 that were sent for army trials according to Ken Waters . He never saw one but the commercial ones may have all been .308 after the military gun was rejected.Should all be 1-10" twist for the 190gr offering.He has this same thread with lots of answer in CGN's.
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The early guns
went to the Montreal Home Guard ,full wood with bayonet.
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data
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history
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All in however this is becoming how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. The OPs gun will be .308 for sure and his question was about using heavier bullets, so my advice remains, 130-150 will work a lot better on game. |
never wrong r u
Ideal book # 22 contains a statement that " the original size of the .303 Savage barrel was .303" in the bore ,taking .311 bullets,but went on to say that they " have been changed to .300 [.30 caliber] ,and use a bullet .308". Argue with them.
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My 1899 was made in 1911 according to the serial number. We have slugged the barrel and it is indeed a .308 bore. I do have a descent 160 grain Hornady FTP load just was trying the 190 to match the factory ammo. Not going to hunt with it all the time, just a nostalgic hunt in the same area my Granfather hunted.
Thanks for the info. |
If you want heavier than 170gr.
Why not try these? https://www.sierrabullets.com/produc...-mm-180-gr-rn/ |
Just loaded up some Barnes 190 Original FP bullets with Leverlution powder. Now just have to get to the range to try them out.
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That aside, would still be interested to hear how the Barnes shoot and what kind of speed you are getting out of them. |
The 303 is too long to fit pointed bullets. Only my blunt leverevolution bullets can fit the mag without the ogive being inside the neck. The 303 is substantially longer than the 300 savage
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I tried out my test loads on the weekend.
The 160 Hornady FTP seated with the cannelure at the end of the brass just fit in the magazine. They did not feed well when levering them in as the flexible point would catch on the ramp. Didn't spend much time on them as I wouldn't want the hassles while hunting. 190 grain FP Barnes Originals worked very well. Looks like 36 To 36.5 grains of Leverlution might be the sweet spot. I haven't ran any of those through the chronograph yet but that will be the next step. These feed into the chamber very well as they should. |
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